Arcade Fire cleans up at Junos, Drake shut out

Arcade Fire, the indie rock band that introduced itself to the world last month by winning big at the Grammys, cleaned up again at the Juno Awards. The Montreal-based group took home four trophies, including album of the year and group of the year.

“It’s been a long time since Sneaky Dee’s,” said the group’s singer Win Butler, accepting the second of the band’s four awards and making mention of the small bar in Toronto where the group once performed, years before its sold-out Madison Square Garden tour dates.

The Junos, Canada’s most prestigious music prize, were held Sunday evening at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. And if Arcade Fire was the night’s big winner, Drake, the evening’s host, took the night’s hardest lumps. “I hear those are actually heavy when you get to hold one in person,” said Drake, the evening’s most-nominated performer. Drake was shut out in all six categories in which he was nominated, including rap recording of the year and artist of the year, which he lost to the evening’s spiritual centre, Neil Young.

Young, who released Le Noise in September, also earned the Allan Waters Humanitarian Prize and the adult alternative album of the year award. “The older I get the more appreciative I am,” said Young, resplendent in a red scarf and black bolero top hat, making his first appearance at a Juno awards show in 29 years. Young, who earned multiple standing ovations, said he found it fitting to be winning an “adult” alternative award. “I’m an adult, there’s no alternative,” said Young, clean-shaven except for the trademark mutton-chop sideburns. “Other people put all sorts of handles on albums, but it’s all music to me.”

It was the first time in 29 years that Young attended the Junos — or, say, Justin Bieber minus 12 years. Bieber, the Stratford, Ont., teenage phenomenon, won pop album of the year for My World 2.0 and the fan choice award after being shut out in three categories in 2010. Currently on tour in the Netherlands, Bieber was unable to attend the ceremony.

“Most of all I want to thank my mom,” said Bieber in a taped acceptance speech from Rotterdam. Throughout the evening, the very mention of the words “Justin Bieber” elicited shrieks from the crowd.

The show at the ACC included performances by Arcade Fire, Sarah McLachlan, Chromeo and Broken Social Scene, and a Canadian rock music tribute featuring an all-star band of Sarah Slean, Sarah Harmer, City and Colour, Jim Cuddy and many others performing hits by Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and The Band. Also in building was Shania Twain, the most successful female artist of all-time, who was ushered into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by Bryan Adams. Twain, in a sparkly silver and black gown, had to wipe back tears when she accepted her prize.

“I really am turning into such a sap,” said Twain, 45, who will next be appearing in a reality-TV show on the new Oprah Winfrey Network. “There’s no day like today. This is it.”

Elsewhere, London, Ont., songstress Meaghan Smith won best new artist on the strength of her album The Cricket’s Orchestra; Shad took the prize for best rap recording for TSOL; and Matthew Good took rock album of the year for Vancouver.

2011 JUNO AWARD WINNERS

Album of the Year: The Suburbs, Arcade FireArtist of the Year: Neil YoungGroup of the Year: Arcade Fire New Artist of the Year: Meaghan Smith Songwriter of the Year: Arcade FirePop Album of the Year:My World 2.0, Justin Bieber Juno Fan Choice Award: Justin BieberRap Recording of the Year: TSOL, Shad